The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) produces a Weekly Viral Respiratory Diseases Report for clinicians. The report provides information on Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity in the state. The report also compares activities in Arkansas to the U.S. ADH receives reports of only a fraction of COVID-19 cases and flu cases since it only requires reports of flu hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks. RSV is not a reportable disease in Arkansas. Therefore, it is important to understand that the information in the weekly update is representative of the timing and location of activity, but it does not reflect the overall disease burden. It is presumed that there are many more people actually affected than the report shows. Clinicians and policymakers may find the report helpful in terms of communicating to colleagues and patients about the current status of viral respiratory diseases in the state and nationwide.

Carl and I attended the visitation services for Sherman Villines on Thursday evening. There was a very long line of people waiting to get in to visit with the family. People from many communities knew the Villines and Goodall families. It was a very large crowd.

Greetings from Capps. I sincerely apologize for my lack of communication last week. Life happened and I quickly had too much week in my week. I'll try to get you up to speed on the latest.

This year is starting off with a lot of stuff going on. I know I was on the go this weekend, Saturday, I went grocery shopping and stopped by the Blue Eye Farmer’s Market and you should see the size of the local produce. Wow!

Eighteen recruits became Arkansas State Troopers tonight during a graduation ceremony in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

Community leaders and individuals are encouraged to participate in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2, at 6 p.m. in the Signature Bank Community Room at 303 N. Main Street.

Harrison High School administrators were alerted to a gun on campus on Tuesday, April 23. School officials discovered that the student was in possession of a BB gun of the pistol type.

Cave Region Review and North Arkansas College Host Music and Art Festival Saturday, April 27. Music, arts and crafts, free food, activities for kids, and door prizes can all be found at the Cave Region Music and Art Festival, Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Pioneer Pavilion, located at Northark’s South Campus in Harrison.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month continues on the University of Arkansas campus this week with the 10th anniversary of the What Were You Wearing Exhibit (WWYW).